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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. K. PROGTOR.

DRYING MACHINE.

No. 539,443. Patented May 21, 1895.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. K. PROOTOR.

DRYING MACHINE.

I I I l I I I l I l l I I I I I I 1 I I l l l I i l l I I l 1 l Il Patented May 21, 18955 museum: was ad. mmumaow wunuiamu, n. c.

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PHILADELPHIA TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

, DRYING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,443, dated May 21, 1895. Appli i n fi d September 25, 1394. Serial No. 524,029. (No model.)

in Drying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an apparatus for drying fibrous material and other matter,

. such as tobacco or the like; and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of an apparatus for such purposes.

The principal object of my'invention is to provide a simple, durable'and efficient drying apparatus in which a continuous circulation of air is insured for drying as Well as quickly absorbing moisture from supported material or matter therein.

My invention consists of a drying apparatus, constructed and arranged for operation in the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of my invention, in which- Figure 1 is avertical central section through a machine embodying the features of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine of Fig. 1, showing the detail internal arrangement of the same and the endless traveling conveyer therein.

Referring to the drawings, A is the exterior rectangular or other form of housing, having end openings at and a.

o. and a are pulleys or drums journaled to shafts a and a which are supported to brackets'or hangers o. and 0 secured to the end walls of the housing and these pulleys or drums a and a extend into one of the internal chambers at both ends of said housing A, and the said drums are' engaged by end-' less wire netting or cloth constituting a conveyer B, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and along which in the travel of the same the material or matter supported thereon is treated and dried by heated air in the manner to be hereinafter more fully explained.

O, is a longitudinal internal chamber having steam or heating coils of pipe 0, mounted and supported in any suitable manner therein. In the inner partition 0, of the chamber O, is provided one or more openings 0 in which is or are inserted a blowing fan or fails D, provided with staggered or flaring vanes and the hub or hubs of which fan or fans is or are mounted on a shaft or shafts d, extend- 6o ing crosswise of and through a chamber or compartment E, which latter is in direct communication at the upper and lower portions thereof with the steam or other heating chamber 0, whereby a thorough circulation and re- 6 5 circulation of heated or dry air is afforded by means of said fan or fans throughout the respective internal chambers or compartments to thoroughly dry out the material or matter supported on and conducted along the wire netting 'or cloth conveyer B, when motion is imparted to one of the shafts of the pulleys a ore from any suitable source of power. Not shown. On the end of each shaft d, carrying a fan or air agitating device D, is mounted a pulley 01 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, for imparting by means of a beltd motionthereto from an engine or other suitable source of power.

In the chamber or compartment E, between the endless conveyer B, are wind guards or shields A and A with upper projections a and a, secured to the internal surface of the end Walls of the said chamber E, and with oblong slots 0. and a, through which the lower portion of the endless conveyer B, travels, the bottom edges of which guards or shields are secured to the floor of the housing A,'as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2, 0 that the material or matter to be dried is introduced into the hopper F, onto the conveyer B, and is acted upon by the circulation of the heated air while passing through the compartment or chamber E, induced by the fan or fans D, in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, and thus by evaporation to-thoroughly and expeditiously dry the supported material or matter in order .to adapt the same for subsequent use, after removal automatically or otherwise from the apparatus.

It will be seen that the apparatus as con structed and arranged admits of a circulation of the air heated by the coils of pipe in the chamber G, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, that is, by simply reversin g the motion of the pulleys driving the fan shafts cl, whereby after permitting the heated air to contact with the supported mat ter or material on the conveyer B, by a downward circulation of saidair, by reversing, it may be subjected to the influence of the air in an upward direction to thoroughly dry out all portions or parts of said matter and bring the same to a highly desirable condition, for subsequent use.

Of course it should be borne in mind that the travel of the conveyer with the matter or material supported thereon will be so timed with respect to the rotation of the fans and circulation of the heated air as to permit of a thorough as well as an expeditious drying out of the same.

It may be still further remarked that the machine arranged as hereinbefore described is adapted to be employed successfully by allowing the conveyer to remain at rest and to supply a vigorous or other heated atmosphere to the matter or material supported thereon, such as a fiber, tobacco or the like, by a circulation of the heated air first in one direction and then in the other to accomplish the same results.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A drying apparatus, comprising a housing divided into two chambers, a vertical partition between said chambers and arranged to establish a communication with said chambers, heating coils in one chamber, revoluble drums connected with the other chamber and extending into the same, an endless conveyer engaging said drums and adapted to travel through slots in the walls of said chamber,

Wind-guards or shields in said chamber interposed between said conveyer and secured to the floor of said housing and provided with slots through which the lower portion of said conveyer travels, means for actuating said drums, a propeller located in an opening in said partition on a shaft and means for actuatingsaid'shaft to permit of a circulation and recirculation of air or steam and air through the two chambers of said housing, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOSIAH K. PROOTOR.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M. SMITH, RICHARD O. MAXWELL. 

